Foldable awning



A ril 18, 1961 w. R. STEPHENS EiAL 2,980,180

FOLDABLE AWNING Filed Sept. 22, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 18, 1961 w.R. STEPHENS El'AL 2, 8 8

FOLDABLE AWNING Filed Sept. 22, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 18, 1961 w.R. STEPHENS EFAL 2,980,180

FOLDABLE AWNING Filed Sept. 22, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W m 38 35b KUnited States Patent FOLDABLE AWNING William R. Stephens, 915 E. StateSt., and Paul A. Johnson, 1611 Grenham Place, both of Rockford, Ill.

Filed Sept. 22, 1958, Ser. No. 762,622

10 Claims. at. 160-62) This invention reltaes to awnings andparticularly to an improved collapsible awning construction.

An important object of this invention is to provide a louvered awningwhich is readily collapsible into a compact arrangement, and which is ofsimple and economical construction and is rugged and durable in use.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide a collapsibleawning formed of horizontally extending slats maintained in spacedparallel relation by flexible ladder tapes and having an improvedarrangement for attaching the upper and lower ends of the taperespectively to a supporting wall and to a swingable arm on the wall,whereby the tapes are automatically drawn to a position to close theslats when the arm is lowered and wherein the slats are automaticallyopened and collapsed one upon the other into a compact stack when thearm is raised. 7 I

Another object of this invention is to provideia collapsible awning inaccordance with the foregoing object and which has an improvedarrangement for mounting the upper slat so that the latter forms aprotective cover for the other slats when in their collapsed condition.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved arrangementfor attaching the lower ends of the ladder tapes and the awning drawcords to the vertically swingable awning support arms, which arrangementis simple and economical and provides a pleasing appearance.

These, together with various ancillary objects and advantages of thisinvention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of the awning of the present inventionshown mounted on a supporting wall in overlying relation to a windowopening and with parts broken away to illustrate details ofconstruction;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the awning mounting rail andillustrating the manner of supporting the pulley brackets thereon;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the upperportion of the awning taken onv aplane adjacent one end of the slats andillustrating the awning in its open or extended position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through thelower portion of the awning, taken on a plane adjacent one end of theslats and illustrating the awning in its open position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through theawning taken on a plane adjacent oneend of the slats and illustratingthe awning in a collapsed position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on theplane 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an end elevational view of a modified form 0 mounting rail andbracket construction shown on a re duced scale, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional modified form of-ladder tape;

view illustrating a and for also attaching the lower end of the tapes tothe.

free ends of the vertically swingable arms 15 in such a manner that thetapes are drawn to a position to substantially close the slats 10, asshown in Figs. 1 and 3, when the arms 15 are lowered, and to permitslatsto move to their open position and collapse into a compact stack, asshown in Fig. 5, when the arms are raised.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 it will be noted thatthe ladder tapes 11 include front and rear flexible strips 17 and 18respectively, which strips are interconnected by longitudinally spacedtie bands, herein shown fourteen in number and designated by thenumerals 20-33 respectively. In order to firmly retain the slats in.

' trated as having an L-shaped cross-section with one leg 35a thereofattached to the wall 12 and the other leg 35b extending generallyhorizontally outwardly from the wall. A pulley and tape support bracket37 is attached to the rail by a mounting bracket 38 for verticalswinging movement relative thereto. Advantageously, the support bracket37 and mounting bracket 38 are so constructed that the same support andmounting bracket can be used, with minor modifications, to support eachof the tapes-11 and to also serve as idler pulleys. In particular, thepulley bracket 37 comprises an elongated generally U-shaped member 39having a length approximately equal to the width of the front andrear'strips 17 and 18 of the ladder tape and having a width that isnarrow as compared to the width of the slats 10. The

mounting bracket 38 is a generally L-shaped configuration, one leg 38aof which is secured to the horizontally extending leg 35b of the rail,as by fasteners 41. The other leg is bifurcated and extends downwardlyalong the opposite ends of the pulley bracket 37 and terminates ininwardly extending fingers 42 (see Fig. 2) which underlie the webportion of the pulley bracket to pivotally support the same thereon. Inorder to facilitate assembly of the pulley bracket on the mountingbracket 38, the pulley bracket may be formed with notches 45 in oppositeends thereof so dimensioned that when one of the notches is positionedto receive a depending portion 38b adjacent one end of the mountingbracket, the inwardly extending finger 42 at the other end of thatbracket will pass through the other notch in the pulley bracket toenable removal of the pulley bracket. The support bracket 37 not onlysupports the ladder tapes 11 but also supports the pulleys for the drawcords. In order to enable use of the same pulley bracket for'the severaltapes of the blind and also as an idler pulley designated 37a, thesupport bracket is formed with pairs of aligned openings 47 and 48 inthe legs thereof adjacent each end. With this arrangement, a pulley 49may be m'ountedby a pin 50 in either or both of the aligned pairs ofopenings 47 and 48, as required. In the embodiment illustrated, onepulley 49 is mounted on the bracket 37 as a tape support bracket, andtwo pulleys are mounted on the bracket 37a used as an idler pulleybracket, it being understood that in some installations the draw cordsarrangement may require more than one pulley in the tape support bracketand may require additional idler pulleys.

For reasons set forth more fully hereinafter, the upper end of the frontstrip 17 of the ladder tape is secured to the rear ladder tape 18adjacent the juncture of the upper tie band 20 with the rear ladderstrip.- The portion of the front strip 17 above the upper tie band 20 ispreferably co-extensive with the upper tie band and ex tends contiguousthereto as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The front strip may besecured to the rear strip in any desired manner, as by adhesives orseparate fasteners and as herein shown, the portion of the rear strip 18above the upper tie band 20 is folded back upon itself and the front tieband extended to overlie the folded portion of the rear strip and thethree layers and secured together as by staples 51 and 52. The pulleybracket 37 is disposed between the front and rear strips 17 and 18 andunderlies the upper tie band 20 so as to support the upper ends of thetapes 11 thereon. Since the pulley bracket 37 is relatively narrow, itwill be seen that the tapes can be drawn to a position such as shown inFig. 3 in which the upper and lower strips are disposed in relativelyclosely spaced relation to close the slats 10.

The arms 15 are mounted for vertical swinging movement on the wall 12,as by U shaped brackets 61 and a crosspiece 62, herein shown in the formof a tube having capped ends, is attached to the outer ends of the armsand extends therebetween. The crosspiece 62 may conveniently be attachedto the arms 15 by a fitting 63 which surrounds the crosspieceintermediate its ends and which is shaped to have opposedsemi-cylindrical ends 64 which receive the ends of the tubular arms 15and which are secured thereto by a fastener 65. For reasons to bedescribed more fully hereinafter, the arms 15 are angulated adjacent theouter ends thereof to provide a gen erally horizonta'ly extending innerportion 15a and an outer end portion 15b which is inclined downwardlyand outwardly, when the arms are lowered as shown in Figure 1.

The lower ends of the ladder tapes 11 are attached to the crosspiece 62in such a manner as to draw the upper and lower strips of the laddertapes to the position snown in Fig. 3, when the arms are lowered, tothereby automatically close the slats 10. Again referring to Figs. 4 and5, it wil be noted that the end portion of the rear strip 18 of theladder tapes, below the juncture of the lower tie band 33 therewith,extends substantially coextensive with the lower tie band and is clampedto the front strip 17 at a point adjacent the juncture of the lower tieband with the front strip. The lower ends of the front and rear strips,arranged in this manner, are rigidly clamped to the crosspiece 62. Forthis purpose a tape attaching bracket is secured to the crosspiece andhas a width substantially equal to the width of the tape strips 17 and18 and a length approximately equal to the length of the tie bands. Thelower portion of the rear strip 17, and the lower tie band 33 as well asthe portion of the front strip 17 between the lower tie band and theadjacent tie band 32, overlie the front face of the attaching bracket 75and the portions of the front and rear strips 17 and 18 beyond thejuncture of the lower tie band with the front strip are folded back uponthe backside of the bracket 75 and clamped thereto. As shown, the lowerends of the ladder tapes extend between the bracket and the crosspiece62 and fasteners 76 extend through the bracket and through the ends ofthe tape to secure the lower portion of the tape ladders to thecrosspiece. As shown in Fig. 4, the attaching bracket 75 extendsgenerally upright when the arms 15 are in their lowered position, andhas a rearwardly extending portion 78 on the upper end thereof, whichportion is-apertured as indicated at 79.

As is conventional, each of the slats 10 have openings therein forreceiving a draw cord 81 and the draw cord -extends downwardly betweenthe upper and lower strips 18 and through the openings in theintermediate slats 10 to a point just above the lowermost tie band 33.In accordance with the present invention, an opening 84 is formed in therear strip 18, above the juncture of the lower tie band 33 therewith,and the end of the cord extends through this opening and through theopening 79 on the attaching bracket 75. The lower end of the cord isthen knotted or otherwise secured to the attaching bracket, as isclearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The upper end of the cord 81 isentrained over the pulley 49 in the support bracket 37 to enable thecrosspiece 62 and the arms 15 to be drawn upwardly and collapse theawning as shown in Fig. 5.

As apparent from Figs. 3-5, the cord 81 extends from the attachingbracket through the openings in the intermediate slats 10 and over thepulley 49. The cord does not extend through the upper slat 10a or thelower slat 10b. The upper slat 10a is interposed between the upper tieband 20 and the end portion of the front strip 17 to be retainedtherebetween with the rear edge thereof in abutting relation with themounting bracket 38. When the awning is extended as shown in Fig. 3, theupper slat 10a overlies the pulley bracket 37 to protectively cover thesame and provide a pleasing appearance. addition, the forward edge ofthe upper slat 10a engages the front strip at the juncture of the uppertie band 20 therewith while the rear edge of the upper slat engages themounting bracket 38. This pushes the front strip 17 downwardly whiledrawing the rear strip 18 upwardly and aids in closing the slats. Whenthe awning is collapsed, the free edge of the upper slat 10a is pushedupwardly while the rear edge thereof swings about the mounting bracket38, until the upper slat reaches the position shown in Fig. 5 closelyunderlying the mounting rail 35. The upper slat overlies the collapsedintermediate slats, and forms a protective cover for the same. The lowerslat 10b is interposed between the lower portion of the rear strip 18and the lower tie band 33 and overlies the front of the attachingbrackets 75 and the crosspiece 62 to cover the same and provide apleasing appearance.

As will be noted, the cord 81 extending through the openings in theintermediate slats 10 inhibits axial movement thereof. In order toprevent axial shifting of the upper and lower slats, a clip is providedwhich, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6 includes a head portion 91 and legportions 92 and 93. The head portion 91 is adapted to overliethe'respective slats and the leg portions 92 and 93 extend through theopenings in the slats and between the ribbon portions 0 and b of therespective tie bands and underlie the same to detachably clamp the slatsto the tie bands.

The location of the ladder tapes and hence the location of the mountingbrackets 38 varies for different size awnings. In addition, the numberand location of idler pulleys 37a also varies with differentinstallations. A modified form of mounting rail and mounting bracket isillustrated in Fig. 7 and is so arranged as to enable positioning of themounting brackets at any point along the rail without requiring thedrilling of holes in the rail.

In particular, the rail 101 has a generally L-shaped cross-sectiondefined by legs 102 and 103. The edges of the rail 101 are rolledinwardly as indicated at 102a and 103a to define an inwardly facingchannel along the side edges of the rail. The mounting brackets 105 arealso generally L-shaped and include legs 106 and 107 connected by adiagonal portiton 108. The legs are disposed at an angle ofslightly'greater than 90 with respect to eachother, as shown in Fig. 7,and at least one leg, herein shown as leg 106, is made shorter thanthecorresponding leg 102 so that the bracket 105 can be mounted on therail by positioning the end of the leg 107 in the channel 103a andpressing that legztowarsl. theleg; 10.3. otlthes,

rail until the other leg 106 of the mounting bracket snaps into thechannel 102a. The mounting bracket is then adjusted to the properposition along the rail and locked in that position by a screw 110 whichis threaded in the diagonal portion 108 of the mounting bracket andengages the rail 101 adjacent the apex thereof.

Spaced flanges 112 are formed at opposite sides of the upper leg 106 ofthe bracket and extend downwardly therefrom. A means is provided forvertically pivotally attaching the pulley brackets 37 on the mountingbrackets 101 and, as herein shown, pins 115 are attached to thedepending flanges 112 and extend through theU-shaped pulley brackets.brackets may be used for mounting the idler pulleys.

A modified form of ladder tape is shown in Fig. 8. In this tape, the tiebands 121 which extend between the front and rear strips 122 and 123 areformed in one piece and have spaced'slots 124 and 125 therein, the endsof which are spaced a short distance from the front and rear strips ofthe ladder tapes. The slots define a central tie band which overlies theslats 126 and spaced. side tie bands which underlie the slat to firmlyretain the slat therebetween and prevent vibration of the slat in thewind. The length of the slots 124 and 125 is made only slightly greaterthan the width of the slats to prevent lateral movement of the slatsbetween the strips 122 and 123. The portions of the tie band 121 betweenthe edge of the slats 126 and the strips 122 and 123 function as a hingeto facilitate tilting of the slats relative to the strips. A centralopening 128 is formed in the tie band to receive the draw cord 81.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the blind may be compactly foldedas shown in Fig. with the upper slat a overlying the intermediate slatsand tape to provide a protective cover therefor. Further, when the armsare lowered and awning extended, the upper strip 17 of, the ladder tapesare automatically drawn downwardly relative to the lower strips 18 toclose the slats 10, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. As will be noted fromFigs. 3 and 4, complete closing of the slats is prevented by the cord 81which extends therebetween and which provides a small space betweenadjacent slats to admit air and light. However, since the slats overlapan appreciable amount, the direct rays of the sun are effectivelyexcluded.

We claim:

1. A collapsible awning construction comprising. a plurality of laddertapes each including spaced front and rear flexible strips having upper,lower, and a plurality of intermediate tie bands therebetween atlongitudinally spaced points therealong, a plurality of intermediateslats each supported on corresponding ones of the intermediate tiebands, the upper portion of the front strip extending contiguous to saidupper tie band and being attached to the rear strip adjacent thejuncture of the upper tie band therewith, an upper slat interposedbetween the upper tie band and the front strip, a cord guide bracketdisposed between said upper tie band and rear strip and underlying saidupper slat, mounting means for supporting said cord guide brackets, apair of arms mounted for vertical swinging movement, a crosspieceextending between said arms, a tape attaching bracket for each tapeattached to said crosspiece and having a front face approximately equalto the width of a slat, means attaching the lower end of a tape to eachtape attaching bracket with the lower portion of the front stripextending adjacent to the lower tie band and across the front face ofthe tape attaching bracket, a lower slat disposed between the frontstrip and the front face of the tape attaching bracket to overlie thefront of the crosspiece, and a cord attached to said crosspiece andextending upwardly between the strips of one tape and over the guidebrackets for drawing the crosspiece upwardly toward the guide bracketsto collapse the intermediate slats into a compact stack and raise saidupper slat into overlying relation to said guide bracket and said Stackof intermediate slats.

As is apparent, similar mounting- 2. A' collapsible awning constructioncomprising a plurality of ladder tapes each including spaced front andrear flexible strips having upper, lower, and a plurality of tie bands,the upper portion of the front strip extending contiguous to said uppertie band and being attached to the rear strip adjacent the juncture ofthe upper tie band i therewith, an upper slat interposed between theupper tie band and the front strip, a cord guide bracket disposedbetween said upper tie band and rear strip and underlying.

said upper slat, mounting means for supporting, said cord guidebrackets, a pair of arms mounted for vertical swinging movement, acrosspiece extending between said arms, a tape attaching bracketfor'each tape attached to said' crosspiece and having a front faceapproximately equal. to

the width of a slat, means attaching the lower end of a..

tape to each tape attaching bracket with the lower portion of the frontstrip extending adjacent to the lower tie band and across the front faceof the tape attaching bracket, a lower slat disposed between the frontstrip and the front fact of the tape attaching bracket to overlie thefront of the crosspiece, said attaching bracket having a laterallyextending portion at its upper end, a cord attached to said laterallyextending portion and extending upwardly be- 7 tween the front and rearstrips of a tape and over said guide, bracket for raising saidcrosspiece toward said guide bracket and thereby collapse saidintermediate slats into a compact stack and raise said upper slat abovesaid stack.

3. A collapsible awning construction comprising 'a plurality of laddertapes each including spaced front and rear flexible strips having upper,lower, and a plurality of intermediate tie bands therebetween atlongitudinally spaced points therealong, a plurality of intermediateslats each supported on corresponding ones of the intermediate tiebands, the upper portion of the front strip extending.

contiguous to said upper tie band and being attached to the rear stripadjacent the juncture of the upper tie band therewith, an upper slatinterposed between the upper tie band and the front strip, a cord guidebracket disposed between said upper tie band and rear strip andunderlying said upper slat, mounting means for supporting said cordguide brackets, a pair of arms mounted for vertical swinging movement, acrosspiece extending between said arms,

a tape attaching bracket for each tape attached to said' crosspiece andhaving a front face, means attaching the lower end of each tape to saidtape attaching bracket with the front and rear strips extending alongopposite sides of the lower tie band, a lower slat disposed between thelower'tie band and the rear strip and overlying the front side of saidattaching brackets and the crosspiece, a cord attached to said bracketand extending upwardly between the strips of onetape to collapse theintermediate slats into a compact stack and raise the upper slat intooverlying relation to said guide bracket and said stack of intermediateslats.

4. A collapsible awning construction comprising aside the upper tie bandand being attached to the rear strip adjacent the juncture of the uppertie band therewith, an upper slat disposed between the upper tie bandand the front strip, a U-shaped pulley bracket disposed between theupper tie band and the rear strip and underlying said upper slat, thespace between the legs of said U-shaped pulley bracket being small ascompared to the width of a slat to enable the front and rear strips ofthe tapes to be drawn into closely spaced relation, a pulley mountedbetween the legs of said pulley bracket, a pair of vertically swingablearms, a crosspiece extending between said arms, means for attaching thelower ends. of said tapes to said crosspiece with the lower portionfront strip extending alongside the lower tie band, a cord attached tosaid crosspiece and extending upwardly between the front and rear strips'of a tape for drawing the crosspiece upwardly and thereby collapse theintermediate slats into a compact stack, and a mounting bracketengageable with said pulley bracket and extending upwardly therefrom,the rear edge of said upper slat being adapted to engage said mountingbracket whereby the upper slat swings upwardly into overlying relationwith said stack when the crosspiece is drawn upwardly.

5. The combination of claim 4 including a mounting rail having anL-shaped cross-section, and means for attaching said mounting bracket toone leg of said rail inwardly of the free edge of the latter whereby therail forms a drain cap which overlies the upper edge of the awning.

6. The combination of claim '4 including a rail having an L-shapedcross-section and lateral flanges on each leg of the rail, said mountingbracket including an L-shaped attaching bracket underlying the legs ofsaid rail and detachably engaging the flanges thereon, and means forswingably attaching said pulley bracket to said L-shaped attachingbracket to support the upper end of the tape on said rail.

7. A collapsible awning construction comprising a plurality of flexibletapes, a plurality of slats mounted on on the tapes at longitudinallyspaced points therealong, a pair of'arms, means for mounting the armsfor vertical swinging movement, a crosspiece extending between the arms,means attaching the lower ends of the tapes to the crosspiece, anelongated horizontally disposed mounting rail having an L-shapedcross-section, a flange extending lengthwise of each leg of the rail andeach flange projecting laterally from the respective leg toward theother leg of the rail, an L-shaped bracket underlying the legs of therail and detachably engaging the flanges thereon, a cord pulley, meanson said L-shaped bracket for swingably attaching said cord pulley andthe upper end of a tape thereto at a point intermediate said flanges onsaid rail, and a cord attached to said crosspiece and entrained oversaid pulley for selectively raising and lowering the crosspiece.

8. A collapsible awning construction comprising a plurality of laddertapes each including spaced front and rear flexible strips having upper,lower and a plurality of intermediate tie bands therebetween atlongitudinally spaced points therealong, a plurality of intermediateslats each supported-on corresponding ones of the intermediate tiebands, the upper portion of the front strip extending contiguousto saidupper tie band and being attached to the rear strip adjacent thejuncture of the upper tie band therewith, an upper slat interposedbetween the upper tie band and the front strip, a plurality of pulleybrackets each having a pulley thereon and each disposed between saidupper tie band and the rear strip of a respective one of the laddertapes and underlying said upper slat, said pulley brackets each having athickness measured in a direction along the pulley axis which is smallas compared to the width of said slats to enable the front and rearstrips to be drawn into closely spaced relation, mounting means forsupporting said pulley brackets and extending upwardly therefrom, a pairof arms mounted for vertical swinging movement, a crosspiece extendingbetween said arms, means attaching the lower ends of each of said, tapesto said crosspiece, and a cord attached to said cross-.. piece andextending upwardly between the strips: ofeachof said tapes and over saidpulley brackets for drawing. said crosspiece upwardly toward said pulleybrackets to collapse the intermediate slats into a compact stack, the

rear edge of the upper slat being engageable with said mounting means.whereby said upper slat swings upwardly about the rear edge thereof intooverlying relation to said pulley brackets and the stack of intermediateslats when said crosspiece is drawn upwardly.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said mounting means includes arail having an L-shaped cross-section,

spaced points therealong, a plurality of intermediate slats eachsupported on corresponding ones of the intermediate tie bands, the upperportion of the front strip extending contiguous to said upper tie bandand being attached to therear strip adjacent the juncture of the uppertie band therewith, an upper slat interposed between the upper tie bandand the frontstrip, a plurality of pulley brackets each having a pulleythereon and each disposed between said upper tie band and the rear stripof a respective one of the ladder tapes and underlying said upper slat,said pllleybrackets each having a thickness measured in a directionalong the pulley axis which is small as compared to the width of saidslats to enable the front and rear strips to be drawn into closelyspaced relation, mounting means for supporting said pulley brackets andextending upwardly therefrom, a pair of arms mounted for verticalswinging movement, a crosspiece extending between said arms, meansattaching-the lower ends of each of said tapes to said crosspiece, acord attached to said crosspiece and extending upwardly between thestrips of each of said tapes and over said pulley brackets for drawingsaid crosspiece upwardly toward said pulley brackets to collapse theintermediate slats into a compact stack, the rear edge of the upper slatbeing engageable with said mounting means whereby said upper slat swingsupwardly about the rear edge thereof into overlying relation to saidpulley brackets and the stack of intermediate slats when said crosspieceis drawn upwardly, and a lower slat disposed between the lower end ofthe front strip of each tape and the crosspiece to overlie the frontface of the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS261,382 Pisak July 18, 1882 1,801,912 Duncanson Apr. 21, 1931 2,339,878Reid et a1 Jan. 25, 1944 2,570,018 Williamson Oct. 2, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS 75,458 Denmark Feb. 16, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N06 2,980,, 180 April 18 1961 WilliamR0 Stephens et a1,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent. should read ascorrected below Column 6., line 23, for "fact" read face 6 Signed andsealed this 12th day of September l96la (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD I Commissioner of Patents AttestingOfficer USCOM M DC

